Resolution 2023-32548RESOLUTION NO. 2023-32548
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, OPPOSING HOUSE
BILL 543, WHICH WOULD AMEND FLORIDA LAW TO
ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PERSON MUST
POSSESS A VALID CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE,
ISSUED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AND CONSUMER SERVICES, IN ORDER TO LEGALLY CARRY
A CONCEALED WEAPON OR FIREARM, AND INSTEAD,
HOUSE BILL 543 WOULD EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZE THE
CONCEALED CARRY OF WEAPONS AND FIREARMS BY
PERSONS WITHOUT EVER OBTAINING A CONCEALED
WEAPONS LICENSE; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE
PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA SENATE AND SPEAKER OF
THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WHEREAS, House Bill 543 ("HB 543"), has been filed for consideration during the 2023
Florida legislative session, and is co -sponsored by House Representatives Robert Charles
Brannan III and Bobby Payne; and
WHEREAS, HB 543 has already received favorable final action from the Constitutional
Rights, Rule of Law & Government Operations Subcommittee, and is presently pending in the
Judiciary Committee of the Florida House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, presently, unless exempted, a person is prohibited from carrying a concealed
weapon or concealed firearm unless such person has a valid license to carry a concealed weapon
("CWL"); and
WHEREAS, carrying a concealed weapon without a CWL is a first degree misdemeanor
and carrying a concealed firearm without a CWL is a third degree felony; and
WHEREAS, HB 543 would amend Fla. Stat. 790.01 to continue to authorize persons to
carry concealed weapons or firearms if such person has a valid CWL, but would also authorize
persons not having a CWL to carry a concealed weapon or firearm, if such person otherwise
satisfies the majority of the criteria for receiving and maintaining a CWL; and
WHEREAS, HB 543 would eliminate the current Florida CWL requirements for
fingerprinting, criminal background checks, and demonstrating competency with a firearm for
persons seeking to carry concealed weapons and firearms in public; and
WHEREAS, these requirements have allowed the Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services (the "Department of Agriculture") to screen out ineligible applicants, including
felons and those convicted of crimes of violence; and
WHEREAS, between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the Department of Agriculture
denied 8,490 CWL applicants and revoked the licenses of another 1,516 persons; and
WHEREAS, those States that have passed permit -less carry bills, like HB 543, have
experienced a 22% increase in gun homicide rates during the three (3) years following passage;
and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida already tallies an alarming one (1) gun death every three
(3) hours; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach consistently strives to ensure its residents and
visitors have a positive experience whether living in the City, or just visiting the City for vacation
or a work -related trip; and
WHEREAS, if enacted, HB 543 endangers the residents, visitors and businesses in the
City of Miami Beach, and moreover, in the entire State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, accordingly, the Mayor and City Commission hereby declare their opposition
to HB 543, and any substitute or similar legislation that authorizes the concealed carry of weapons
and firearms without obtaining a license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm and satisfying all
of the requirements appurtenant thereto.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby oppose House Bill 543, which would amend Florida law to eliminate the
requirement that a person must possess a valid concealed weapons license, issued by the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in order to legally carry a concealed weapon
or firearm, and instead, House Bill 543 would expressly authorize the concealed carry of weapons
and firearms by persons without ever obtaining a concealed weapons license; and directing the
City clerk to transmit a copy of this resolution to the President of the Florida Senate and Speaker
of the Florida House of Representatives.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this, P ' day of
ATTEST:
MAR
Rafael L. Granado, City Clerk
2023.
.....BF,9
.INCORP GRATED:
NCH 26'�
(Sponsored by Commissioner Alex J. F
Dan Gelber, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
Z3
City Attorney
v l f Date
Resolutions - R7 E
MIAMI BEACH'
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael A. Paz, CityAttomey
DATE: March 27, 2023
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY'
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, OPPOSING HOUSE BILL, 543, WHICH
WOULD AMEND FLORIDA LAW TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT
THAT A PERSON MUST POSSESS A VALID CONCEALED WEAPONS
LICENSE, ISSUED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AND CONSUMER SERVICES, IN ORDER TO LEGALLY CARRY A
CONCEALED WEAPON OR FIREARM, AND INSTEAD, HOUSE BILL 543
WOULD EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZE THE CONCEALED CARRY OF
WEAPONS AND FIREARMS BY PERSONS WITHOUT EVER OBTAINING A
CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK
TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE PRESIDENT OF
THE FLORIDA SENATE_ AND SPEAKER OF THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANALYSIS
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the attached Resolution is submitted
for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION,
N/A.
Applicable Area
Not Applicable
Is this a "Residents Right
to Know" item, pursuant to
City Code Section 2-14?
No
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Does this item utilize G.O.
Bond Funds?
No
Page 886 of 1292
Sponsor
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Resolution
Page 887 of 1292
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-673-7411
March 28, 2023
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo
409 The Capitol
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Dear Senate President Passidomo,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2023-32548:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 543, WHICH WOULD
AMEND FLORIDA LAW TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PERSON
MUST POSSESS A VALID CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE, ISSUED BY THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, IN
ORDER TO LEGALLY CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON OR FIREARM, AND
INSTEAD, HOUSE BILL 543 WOULD EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZE THE
CONCEALED CARRY OF WEAPONS AND FIREARMS BY PERSONS
WITHOUT EVER OBTAINING A CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE; AND
DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA SENATE AND SPEAKER OF THE
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez and Co -sponsored by Mayor Dan
Gelber)
This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami
Beach on March 27, 2023.
Respectfully,
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Mayor Dan Gelber
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-673-7411
March 28, 2023
Speaker of the House Paul Renner
420 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Dear Speaker of the House Renner,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2023-32548:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 543, WHICH WOULD
AMEND FLORIDA LAW TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PERSON
MUST POSSESS A VALID CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE, ISSUED BY THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, IN
ORDER TO LEGALLY CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON OR FIREARM, AND
INSTEAD, HOUSE BILL 543 WOULD EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZE THE
CONCEALED CARRY OF WEAPONS AND FIREARMS BY PERSONS
WITHOUT EVER OBTAINING A CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE; AND
DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA SENATE AND SPEAKER OF THE
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez and Co -sponsored. by Mayor Dan
Gelber)
This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami
Beach on March 27, 2023.
Respectfully,
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Mayor Dan Gelber